This year, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have transitioned from a stainless steel finish to titanium for a lightweight and durable design with contoured edges and thinner borders than the predecessor models.
Apple also claims that the new iPhone 15 Pro models feature the toughest back glass and Ceramic Shield on the front which are built to last.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature a strong and lightweight titanium design — a first for iPhone. This premium alloy — the same used in spacecraft — has one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios of any metal, making this Apple’s lightest Pro lineup ever.
However, real-world durability tests reveal that the new titanium iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max do have strong front screens but very weak back glass.
[Update: YouTuber @PhoneRepairGuru dug deeper to find the reason behind the fragile iPhone 15 Pro Max back glass by comparing it with last year’s iPhone 14. He removed the back glass panels of both smartphones and found that the replacement of the back metal plate behind the glass back panel was the reason for its weakness.
In iPhone 14, the metal plate was on the back glass which made it more crack resistant. However, in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the metal back plate has been moved on the phone’s body which weakens its structural durability.
Maybe this is why Apple reduced the repair cost of the iPhone 15 Pro Max back glass drastically, from $549 to $199.]
iPhone 15 Pro has stronger back glass than iPhone 15 Pro Max
Before the new iPhone 15 Pro models shipped out to users, Apple fans like me were very excited about the new titanium finish. It would increase the useability of the bigger 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max by making it lighter and more durable. Apple claimed;
The Pro lineup is built to last, combining the strength of titanium with the toughest back glass in a smartphone and the industry-leading Ceramic Shield on the front.
However, YouTubers @JerryRigEverything and @EverythingApplePro found out that this is not the case.
While testing the durability of the new iPhone 15 Pro models, @JerryRigEverything was able to easily damage or crack the back glass of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, the back glass of the iPhone 15 Pro survived the bend test.
In @EverythingApplePro‘s drop test, the back glass of the iPhone 15 Pro Max shattered, and the iPhone 15 Pro’s back glass also cracked but not as badly as the Pro Max.
Having said that the front screens and the cameras of both smartphones cleared the durability tests with flying colors.
The results show that the titanium iPhone 15 Pro Max has a strong screen but a weak back and iPhone 15 Pro is more durable than the highest-end 15 Pro Max.
I personally like the new iPhone 15 Pro Max in titanium because of its lightweight, I will be able to use the largest 6.7-inch model for the first time. The stainless steel Pro Max models were heavier for me to use. So, if you are looking to purchase the iPhone 15 Pro Max because of its fast performance and lightweight, then make sure to buy a strong protective case for it.
